8 public posts in this discussion.
Hey does anybody here actually know how wireless networking works at all? Like do you have to connect to an access point or what? Someone please explain this concept.. I have all the shit sitting here right in front of me... I am just missing an LM4 cable... Anybody have any idea where I could get a 10m cable for cheap?
Also, if I could get a fair idea of how many people here actually use it and get some feedback about good/bad things about it?
ok for a start what do u have and what are u tryign to do ?
are u trying to get 2 computer in ya home or ofice connected to each other or u trying to get on darwin wireless?
well it's not terribly difficult from what i've read (want to link up my household of computers to access the net through a wireless ap/router/modem) it should be simple enough if you go through the wizard supplied with the equipment.
otherwise.. there are many more networking gurus around here and i'll let them explain how to do it manually.
I am trying to get onto Darwin Wireless
Amazing. I just typed up a post asking a similar set of questions. Rather then putting another thread, I'll post here (if you don't mind) and hope that an answer for you can help me or vise versa.
I bought a wireless network card for my laptop today, and I have a few questions about it.
It's a reasonably expensive model; 2.4ghz, 802.11b, 22mpbs, 256-bit WEP card with 328 feet range indoors and 984 feet range outdoors. I realise that 984 feet (aproximately ~350 metres) is not a huge amount, but still. Humor me. I know almost nothing about wireless equipment, and have no idea where the antenna's are. Hopefully one is on the Telstra tower.
Thus, a few questions:
a) Is this enough to connect to the Darwin wireless network assuming I can get close enough to an antenna?
b) Does anyone know anything about the Canberra wireless network and if this hardware will allow me to connect there? Bearing in mind I am right up the back of the ANU campus; the Telstra Tower is only ~300m away by my guess.
c) Any other information which may be important. Frequency information, etc.
d) The university has wireless network which I havn't tried to access yet. Can I access more then one wireless network at once (logic would dictate no, but still, worth asking)?
e) Do I have to manually adust the frequency to switch between networks?
Ok here are some generic info
In order to connect to a wireless network you will need to know where the nearest access point is for that network.
Then you will need to determine if you are in range - usually the cards have a little utility that shows you signal strength and throuhput etc.
Most good wireless networks will have some form of security - you will need to contact the Network Owner/Admin to determine what is required - at a minimum you will need to be registered on the network - ie MAC address etc
SOme other things are frequencies used and encryption method, authentication etc to actually access the network.
So its not just a plug and play exercise - find someone who is already conneted and find out what they had to do to get connected. Its bit like a normal ISP where you go through their process to get connected.
a few things to note with wireless..and no im not a guru
1, research cantenas and directional wireless, you can get a lot more distance out of a directional antenna than from a conventional "spam the world" wireless setup
2, What are you wanting to get to via wireless, do you want to play a game/leech off your neighbour or get free net acces. Justremember that someone has to pay for your internet usage (and will notice Gb's of data usage if your a leecher) should you find a node with net access.
3, All smart admins with wifi setups will use both encryption and also have specific ip ranges that are allowed onto their network (not all admins are smart hence wardriving still exists)
4, Changing frequencies "shouldnt" be necessary as the frequencies are allocated by A.C.A. ...au communications authority.
5, If ya find a nice wifi node, mark your acces point with yellow chalk, a big X should do, then inform good old uncle leppy of your findings, coz im yet to wardrive in darwin :D heheh
As has allready been stated you may be able to get to a node, yet find you need a login etc, dont expect the first network you find to let you on.
Also dont forget as mentioned in my 2nd point someone out there has paid for both the wifi setup and its bandwidth, nothing is free in this day and age, so expect to find a few networks, but dont think just coz you have a wifi card you will have free net or even have access to the local net unless you ask the admin/owner for permission/ip/login/encryption key etc.
P.S. final note, that you must know (but can ignore, and most ppl do) just coz its insecure and open does NOT mean you are allowed to use it. WiFi use is NOT immune to theft/fraud/hacking laws. You may be harder to catch, but your still breaking the law if you enter a network and or steal bandwidth.
Darwin Wireless. (My New investement)
visit http://www.darwinwireless.com/ any major questions ask on those forums.
As for getting on darwin wireless.
Less than $400 .. $381 to be exact for the componets needed :) As this is as up to date as you can get as I ordered yesterday.
You need to be able to see a AP = Access Point though so higher is better.